DOUBLE-AMPUTEE MARINE VETERAN JOINS SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

The 28-year-old graduated Friday from the Police Academy on Long Island following 29 weeks of training. He is now the first active-duty double-amputee police officer in the country.

The 6-foot-1 (1.9-meter), 215-pound (98-kilogram) rookie passed all the physical training and other requirements just like any other recruit, including running a mile and a half in around 11 minutes. He begins patrols next week, a department spokesman said.